Apparatus for charging open-hearth furnaces and the like.



J. SMITH. APPARATUS FOR QHARGING OPEN HEARTH FURNACES AND THE LIKE APPLICATION FILED JAN.13, 1912.

Patented Jur le 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED JANIS, 1912.

Patented June 4, 1912.

3 $HEETSSHBET 2.

I I J J K fl A wi/mmao:

J. SMITH. APPARATUS FOR CHARGING OPEN HEARTH FURNACES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18,1912.

1,028,620, Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UNITED STATES .1 3. azxLl ygELE t it PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SMITH, OF EALING, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

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Specification Letters me lv Application Med January 1:; 191B. krill I0. 671,070.:

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known'that I, JAMES SMITH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Ealing, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Charging Open-Hearth Furnaces and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for charging open-hearth or similar furnaces, and is an improvement uponor modification of that described in a companion application executed and filed of even date herewith. In the apparatus described in said companion application the t-iltable charging arm or bar, which is mounted on a platform or carriage rotatable on a vertical axis, is adapted to berotated or oscillated one longitudinal axis intersecting said vertical axis. According to the present improvement or modification, the charging arm or bar is disposed at one side of the vertical axis of said rotatable carriage so as to permit a central column carrying collector gear for the electric motors, which impart the respective motions to the apparatua'tobeextended.

above the charging .al mfi flnd' thus afford ready access to the collector gear and the electric connections between the rotating and non-rotating portions of the machine, and also allow direct connection-with preferably overhead electric conductors as hereinafter particularly described. In previous designs of similar charging machines the rotary collector gear has been fixed in a comparatively inaccessible position below the turn table; this is avoided by the present design.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a charging apparatus of the kind referred to embodyin the invention; Fig. 2 is a. part plan; an Fig. 3 is a part elevation at right angles to Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the several views.

Referring to thedrawings, the charging I apparatus comprises a main traveling structure 1 made up of suit-ably braced I-beams or the like resting on wheels2 adapted to be rotated through the intermediary of suit- 0 able gearing 4-5 from an electric motor 6,

whereby the said structure may be traversed alon stationary rails 7 disposed parallel to the 1%11711308 front.

Mounted to run on the structure 1 in a direction at right angles to the line ofinoveawayfrom the furnace opening, is a carria'ge 8 to which are connected the ends of sprocket chains 9, said chains being led around sprocket wheels 10 and 11. The sprocket wheels 10 are fast on the shaft 12 mounted in bearings on the main structure 1, said shaft being rotated through gearing 13 driven from an electric motor 14, said gearing and motor being located to one side of and at the rear of the structure 1, so that the component parts thereof are readily accessible and out of the dangerous heat from the "furnace. .It will be understood that the motor 14 and gearing 13 will participate in the movement of the structure 1 and be stationary relatively to the carriage 8, the gearing, chain connections, etc., acting positively to traverse the carriage.

- The charging arm 15 is supported within ment of the structure, that is, towardv or 1 a hollow bearing 16 having journals fitted in brackets 17 mounted on a turn table 18,

the latter being mounted on the carriage 8.

The turn table 18 may be rotatably supported in any suitable manner, as by roller bearings described in my said companion application.- On the turn table is mounted an electric motor 19. which drives a worm gearing 20 and a gear 21 (see Fig. 2), the latter meshing with a fixed internal gear 22 on the carriage.

In addition to the rotation of the charg ing arm 15, through the rotation of the turn table the said arm has an independent movement of rotation on its longitudinal axis through the following mechanism: The rear ward extension ofthe bearing 16 supports a platform 23 on which is supported an electric motor 2 1 driving a suitable train of gears, the worm wheel 25 of which (see Fig. 1) is fast on the shaft of the charging arm. The charging arm is also capable of a tilting movement on a transverse horizontal' axis. As above stated, the bearing 16 has journals fitted in brackets 17 and said bearing is tilted by means of a crank 26 secured to shaft '27 located beneath bearing 16., To said crank are connected arms 28 provided with rollers 29 engaging guides on the rear portions of the bearing 16. The crank shaft 27 is driven through gearing30 from an electric motor 31, the gearing being kept as low as possible relatively to the charging arm at one side thereof so as to aflqrd an uninterrupted view of the charging arm and theload carried thereby when the furnace is being charged. It will be understood that the devices fortilting the charging-arm operate on the same from below.

As will be' observed, more particularly with referenceto Fig. 3, thezcharging arm' 15 is located at one side of the vertical axis 32 of the turn table 18," while clearance is provided at 33 to permit the chargin arm to be tilted on its transverse horizonta axis at 3 k. This'arrangement afiords a-convenient means for permitting a non-rotating central column 35 connected to the carriage 8 and carrying a known type of collector gear for the electric motors above referred to, to be carried above the charging arm 15 and thus afford ready access to the collector gear and allow direct connection to overhead conductors 36.

The upper end of the collector column 35 may be inclosed by a casing 37 having a ball and socket or like connection at 38 ointed as by means of 'a' swivel joint 39 with a suitably supported trolley on which are preferably mounted'spring held arms 40 carters Patent of the UnitedStates, is z--- r ing rollers for engagement with the conuc'tors 36.

What I claim and desire to'secure by Let- 1. In an apparatus of the character de-" above the charglng arm.

scribed, the combination of a main traveling structure, a carriage mounted thereon, a turn table supported on the carriage, a charging arm supported on said table at one side of the vertical axis of said table, a central column also mounted on said table, electric collector gear carried by said column, said collector gear being extended above the charging arm.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the'combination of a main traveling structure, a carriage mounted thereon, a turn table mounted on said carriage, a charging arm supported on said table at one side of the vertical axis thereof, electric motors mounted on said turn table and mechanism actuated by said motors for rotating the turn table and, for rotating said charging'arm'and also for tilting said arm on its horizontal axis, a central column, and an electric collector gear carried by said column, said collector gear being extended In testimony whereof signed my name n the presence of-two subscribing witnesses. i

Witnesses:

Ronmrr SHAW Fox, a HENRY PELHAM SMITH.

I fhave hereunto JAMES sMrrn. 

